U.S. patent application number 11/813786 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-05 for optical storage medium and player.
Invention is credited to Hiroshi Hamasaka.
Application Number | 20090034387 11/813786 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36740380 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090034387 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hamasaka; Hiroshi |
February 5, 2009 |
OPTICAL STORAGE MEDIUM AND PLAYER
Abstract
An optical storage medium that allows the user to recognize a
given disk as a hybrid one, no matter whether the disk is loaded
into a single format player or a multi-format player, is provided.
The optical storage medium includes a stack of first and second
storage layers with mutually different storage densities.
Management information indicating the presence of the second
storage layer is stored on the first storage layer.
Inventors: |
Hamasaka; Hiroshi; (Osaka,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARK D. SARALINO (PAN);RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
1621 EUCLID AVENUE, 19TH FLOOR
CLEVELAND
OH
44115
US
|
Family ID: |
36740380 |
Appl. No.: |
11/813786 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
January 25, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2006/301143 |
371 Date: |
July 12, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
369/94 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 2007/0006 20130101;
G11B 2020/1278 20130101; G11B 2220/2562 20130101; G11B 2020/1229
20130101; G11B 2220/237 20130101; G11B 2220/2583 20130101; G11B
2020/1227 20130101; G11B 7/00736 20130101; G11B 20/1217 20130101;
G11B 2020/1265 20130101; G11B 20/00768 20130101; G11B 2220/211
20130101; G11B 20/00753 20130101; G11B 7/24038 20130101; G11B
20/00086 20130101; G11B 2220/2541 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
369/94 |
International
Class: |
G11B 3/74 20060101
G11B003/74 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 28, 2005 |
JP |
2005-020715 |
Claims
1. An optical storage medium comprising a stack of first and second
storage layers with mutually different storage densities, wherein
management information indicating the presence of the second
storage layer is stored on the first storage layer.
2. The optical storage medium of claim 1, wherein the first storage
layer has a lead-in area, and wherein the management information is
stored in the lead-in area of the first storage layer.
3. The optical storage medium of claim 2, wherein user data
indicating the presence of the first storage layer is stored on the
second storage layer.
4. The optical storage medium of claim 3, wherein the second
storage layer has a lead-in area, and wherein the user data is not
stored in the lead-in area of the second storage layer but in a
different area of thereof.
5. The optical storage medium of claim 3, wherein the second
storage layer further has a data area, and wherein the user data is
stored in the data area of the second storage layer.
6. The optical storage medium of claim 5, wherein the user data
relates to at least one of video and audio indicating the presence
of the first storage layer.
7. The optical storage medium of claim 5, wherein sequence
information defining a procedure of processing to be carried out
first when data is read out from the second storage layer is stored
in the data area of the second storage layer, and wherein the
sequence information defines the procedure of presenting video
based on the video data.
8. The optical storage medium of claim 3, wherein each of the first
and second storage layers has a data area, and wherein a first
piece of title information about a content of a first quality and a
first piece of copyright management information for protecting the
copyright of the content of the first quality are stored in the
data area of the first storage layer, and wherein a second piece of
title information about a content of a second quality and a second
piece of copyright management information for protecting the
copyright of the content of the second quality are stored in the
data area of the first storage layer.
9. The optical storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first and
second pieces of copyright management information define mutually
different copyright protection conditions.
10. A player for retrieving information from an optical storage
medium, the optical storage medium comprising a stack of first and
second storage layers with mutually different storage densities,
management information indicating the presence of the second
storage layer being stored on the first storage layer, the player
comprising: a reading section for reading the management
information when the player is loaded with the optical storage
medium; and a control section for outputting information indicating
the presence of the second storage layer based on the management
information.
11. The player of claim 10, wherein the first storage layer has a
lead-in area in which the management information is stored and a
data area in which user data about at least one of video and audio
indicating the presence of the second storage layer is stored, and
wherein the reading section further reads the user data, and
wherein the control section outputs at least one of video and audio
based on the user data, thereby making a notification of the
presence of the second storage layer.
12. The player of claim 10, wherein the second storage layer has a
data area in which user data about at least one of video and audio
indicating the presence of the first storage layer is stored, and
wherein the reading section further reads the user data from the
second storage layer, and wherein the control section outputs at
least one of video and audio based on the user data of the second
storage layer, thereby making a notification of the presence of the
first storage layer.
13. A player for retrieving information from an optical storage
medium, the optical storage medium comprising a stack of first and
second storage layers with mutually different storage densities,
video information of a first definition being stored on the first
storage layer, video information of a second definition being
stored on the second storage layer, the player comprising: a memory
that stores in advance output information specifying definition of
video to output; a control section for selecting, in accordance
with the output information, either the first storage layer or the
second storage layer to read video information from when the player
is loaded with the optical storage medium; and a reading section
for reading the video information from the first or second storage
layer selected.
14. The player of claim 13, further comprising an interface section
that receives information, specifying a signal format acceptable
for an output device, as the output information from a user.
15. The player of claim 13, further comprising an interface section
that receives information, specifying a signal format acceptable
for an output device, as the output information from the output
device.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an optical storage medium
including multiple types of storage layers with mutually different
storage densities and also relates to a player for selecting one of
those storage layers of such a storage medium and retrieving
information from that storage layer.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Various types of optical information storage media (which
will also be referred to herein as "optical storage media"),
including CDs and DVDs, have been developed.
[0003] Recently, an optical disk including multiple storage layers
with mutually different storage densities (or recording formats),
i.e., a so-called "hybrid disk", has been put on the market. For
example, Patent Document No. 1 discloses a hybrid disk including a
storage layer that uses the same format as CDs (which is called a
"CD layer") and a storage layer that uses the same format as DVDs
(which is called a "DVD layer"). On the other hand, Patent Document
No. 2 discloses a hybrid disk including a storage layer that uses
the same format as a high definition (HD) disk containing audio
information (which is called an "HD layer") and a CD layer.
[0004] As these hybrid disks have been developed, a player that can
retrieve information from any of those storage layers of a hybrid
disk (which is called a "multi-format player") has also been
developed. Those storage layers with mutually different storage
densities have different physical shapes, and therefore, have an
optical difference, too. The multi-format player can sense that
difference, recognize the desired storage layer and perform an
appropriate type of signal processing according to the information
stored on that layer, thereby retrieving the information. Patent
Document No. 2 discloses such a player.
[0005] One of the advantages of the hybrid disk is that the disk
allows even a player compliant with only one format (which is
called a "single format player") to retrieve information from it.
For example, even a CD player and a DVD player, both of which are
single-format players, can retrieve information from the hybrid
disk disclosed in Patent Document No. 1. That is to say, a CD
player could read information from the CD layer and a DVD player
could read information from the DVD layer.
[0006] However, the optical properties of each layer of the hybrid
disk are not always the same as those of the only storage layer of
an optical disk. That is why if a hybrid disk were loaded by
mistake into a player that is not compatible with hybrid disks, the
laser beam might be accidentally focused on one of its storage
layers. In that case, the player might cause a failure.
[0007] To overcome such a problem, Patent Document No. 3 discloses
a method for preventing a conventional player from malfunctioning
in a situation where a dual-layer disk is loaded into the player.
The dual-layer disk disclosed in Patent Document No. 3 includes a
storage layer corresponding to that of a conventional CD (which is
called a "low-density storage layer") and another storage layer
with higher density. In a predetermined area of the high-density
storage layer, a piece of information indicating that this is not a
CD (i.e., information that is not defined by CD's signal format) is
stored at such a low storage density as to be easily read even by a
CD player. By storing such a piece of information, even if the
laser beam happened to be focused on the high-density storage
layer, the playback operation of the player would stop halfway.
Consequently, it is possible to prevent the CD player from
malfunctioning. [0008] Patent Document No. 1: Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open Publication No. 10-40754 [0009] Patent
Document No. 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication
No. 2000-156033 [0010] Patent Document No. 3: Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-237034
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0011] When loaded with a hybrid disk, a single format player can
recognize its compatible storage layer but never recognizes the
other storage layer or notifies the user of the presence. That is
why the user may not recognize the disk as a hybrid disk properly.
In that case, even when he or she purchases a player that can
retrieve information from that other storage layer, he or she will
not imagine that unknown information is retrievable from that
disk.
[0012] In such a situation, it would be very inconvenient for the
user if the package or label of the disk were the only means for
identifying the disk for him or her. It is also unrealistic for him
or her to always get multiple types of single-format players ready
to see whether the given disk is a hybrid one or not.
[0013] Meanwhile, when a multi-format player is used, it takes a
lot of time to get a loaded disk ready to play, which is also a
problem.
[0014] For example, when loaded with a disk, a player sees if every
storage layer of the disk is accessible and determines whether the
disk is a hybrid one or not. It also takes a rather long time to
get this processing done, and therefore, the user has to wait a
long time before the player gets ready to be play the disk.
[0015] On top of that, the conventional multi-format player does
not allow the user to decide, according to the playing environment
or his or her preference, from which storage layer information
should be retrieved first. That is why the user may sometimes have
to suspend playback for a while to make a selection, and he or she
will have to wait a long time before he or she can retrieve his or
her desired information.
[0016] This problem will be described in further detail by way of a
specific example. Suppose high definition (HD) compressed data of a
movie is stored on the high-density storage layer of a hybrid disk
and standard definition (SD) compressed data of the same movie is
stored on the standard density storage layer thereof. If the user
is now using an HD compatible appliance such as an HD digital TV
set, the player may play back the HD quality movie from the
high-density storage layer. However, if he or she is using an SD
compatible appliance such as a conventional NTSC analog TV set,
then he or she has to stop the output of the HD quality movie once
and then switch the outputs into an SD quality movie, which is very
inconvenient for him or her. Also, according to the settings of the
device installed, processing of converting HD quality into SD
quality could start automatically, and the SD quality produced by
the conversion might be inferior to that of the standard density
storage layer of the hybrid disk.
[0017] Also, music, image, video or any other copyrighted work may
be distributed, or its copy generation may be managed, on different
conditions according to its quality. For example, in a situation
where the same movie or music clip is stored as standard quality
compressed data and high quality compressed data on the standard
density storage layer and the high-density storage layer,
respectively, the distribution and copy generation management are
preferably controlled under respectively different conditions.
[0018] An object of the present invention is to provide an optical
storage medium, a player and a playback method that allow the user
to recognize a given disk as a hybrid one, no matter whether the
disk is loaded into a single format player or a multi-format
player. Another object of the present invention is to make a
multi-format player select a storage layer to retrieve information
from either automatically according to the playback environment or
at the user's request, thereby starting to retrieve desired
information as quickly as possible.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0019] An optical storage medium according to the present invention
includes a stack of first and second storage layers with mutually
different storage densities. Management information indicating the
presence of the second storage layer is stored on the first storage
layer.
[0020] The first storage layer may have a lead-in area, and the
management information may be stored in the lead-in area of the
first storage layer.
[0021] User data indicating the presence of the first storage layer
may be stored on the second storage layer.
[0022] The second storage layer may have a lead-in area, and the
user data may not be stored in the lead-in area of the second
storage layer but in a different area of thereof.
[0023] The second storage layer may further have a data area, and
the user data may be stored in the data area of the second storage
layer.
[0024] The user data may relate to at least one of video and audio
indicating the presence of the first storage layer.
[0025] Sequence information defining a procedure of processing to
be carried out first when data is read out from the second storage
layer may be stored in the data area of the second storage layer.
The sequence information may define the procedure of presenting
video based on the video data.
[0026] Each of the first and second storage layers may have a data
area. A first piece of title information about a content of a first
quality and a first piece of copyright management information for
protecting the copyright of the content of the first quality may be
stored in the data area of the first storage layer. A second piece
of title information about a content of a second quality and a
second piece of copyright management information for protecting the
copyright of the content of the second quality may be stored in the
data area of the first storage layer.
[0027] The first and second pieces of copyright management
information may define mutually different copyright protection
conditions.
[0028] A player according to the present invention retrieves
information from an optical storage medium. The optical storage
medium includes a stack of first and second storage layers with
mutually different storage densities, and management information
indicating the presence of the second storage layer is stored on
the first storage layer. The player includes: a reading section for
reading the management information when the player is loaded with
the optical storage medium; and a control section for outputting
information indicating the presence of the second storage layer
based on the management information.
[0029] The first storage layer may have a lead-in area in which the
management information is stored and a data area in which user data
about at least one of video and audio indicating the presence of
the second storage layer is stored. The reading section may further
read the user data. And the control section may output at least one
of video and audio based on the user data, thereby making a
notification of the presence of the second storage layer.
[0030] The second storage layer may have a data area in which user
data about at least one of video and/or audio indicating the
presence of the first storage layer is stored. The reading section
may further read the user data from the second storage layer. And
the control section may output at least one of video and audio
based on the user data of the second storage layer, thereby making
a notification of the presence of the first storage layer.
[0031] Another player according to the present invention retrieves
information from an optical storage medium. The optical storage
medium includes a stack of first and second storage layers with
mutually different storage densities. Video information of a first
definition is stored on the first storage layer, while video
information of a second definition is stored on the second storage
layer. The player includes: a memory that stores in advance output
information specifying definition of video to output; a control
section for selecting, in accordance with the output information,
either the first storage layer or the second storage layer to read
video information from when the player is loaded with the optical
storage medium; and a reading section for reading the video
information from the first or second storage layer selected.
[0032] The player may further include an interface section that
receives information, specifying a signal format acceptable for an
output device, as the output information from a user.
[0033] Alternatively, the player may further include an interface
section that receives information, specifying a signal format
acceptable for an output device, as the output information from the
output device.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0034] An optical storage medium according to the present invention
includes two storage layers with mutually different storage
densities, and one of the two storage layers stores management
information indicating the presence of the other storage layer. And
if the player notifies the user of the presence of the other
storage layer based on this management information, he or she can
sense the presence of that layer easily.
[0035] In particular, according to the present invention, the
management information is stored in the lead-in area of the first
storage layer and user data indicating the presence of the first
storage layer is also stored in the data area of the second storage
layer. Any type of information may be stored in the data area. For
that reason, even if the data structure of the second storage layer
is defined by a standard, for example, the player can still
interpret that information and present its contents to the user.
Consequently, he or she can sense the presence of the additional
layer, no matter whether the player can retrieve information from
only the first storage layer or only the second storage layer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates the multilayer structure of an optical
disk 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0037] FIG. 2(a) shows the data structure of a high-density storage
layer 102, while FIG. 2(b) shows the data structure of a
low-density storage layer 104.
[0038] FIG. 3 shows correlation between the lead-in 201 of the
high-density storage layer 102 and hybrid information 21.
[0039] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a player 300 according to
a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of initializing
processing to be carried out by the player 300.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary initializing screen.
[0042] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of playback
processing to be carried out by the player 300.
[0043] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of information
retrieval processing on the low-density storage layer 104.
[0044] FIG. 9 shows an exemplary on-screen message indicating the
presence of the high-density storage layer 102.
[0045] FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) show other exemplary data structures
of the high-density storage layer 102 and low-density storage layer
104.
[0046] FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) show exemplary on-screen messages that
indicate the presence of the low-density storage layer directly and
indirectly, respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0047] 21 hybrid information [0048] 100 optical disk [0049] 101
protective glass layer [0050] 102 high-density storage layer [0051]
103, 105 base member [0052] 104 low-density storage layer [0053]
201, 211 lead-in [0054] 300 player [0055] 301 CPU [0056] 302
general-purpose memory [0057] 310 optical pickup [0058] 311 layer
recognizing section [0059] 312 layer specifying section [0060] 313
signal switching section [0061] 316 user input interface (I/F)
[0062] 317 video output format memory [0063] 318 connection
interface (I/F) [0064] 319 copyright information processing section
[0065] 320 TV set [0066] 321 TV [0067] 322 loudspeaker [0068] 330
HDMI cable [0069] 2025 SD presence information [0070] 2125 HD
presence information [0071] 2024, 2124 copyright management
information [0072] 3140 HD decoder [0073] 3150 SD decoder
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0074] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0075] In the following description of preferred embodiments, the
information storage medium is supposed to be an optical storage
medium (which will be referred to herein as an "optical disk"). The
optical disk is supposed to be a read-only one in the following
description.
[0076] Also, the optical disk is supposed to be a hybrid disk
including a stack of two storage layers with mutually different
storage densities. The information stored in each of these two
storage layers is read optically with a light beam that has been
emitted from a semiconductor laser diode. It should be noted that
no single storage layer is supposed to have a plurality of storage
areas with different storage densities.
[0077] Various types of storage layers may be combined with each
other. In the following example, a storage layer, of which the
format is compatible with DVDs and which will be referred to herein
as a "low-density storage layer", and another storage layer, of
which the format is compatible with BDs and which will be referred
to herein as a "high-density storage layer", are used in
combination. The low-density storage layer has a storage capacity
of less than 5 GB (e.g., 4.7 GB) and the high-density storage layer
has a storage capacity of 20 GB or more (e.g., 25 GB).
[0078] Hereinafter, the physical structure and the data structure
of an optical disk according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention will be described specifically with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0079] FIG. 1 illustrates the multilayer structure of an optical
disk 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention. The optical disk 100 includes a protective glass layer
101, a high-density storage layer 102, a base member 103, a
low-density storage layer 104, and another base member 105, which
are stacked in this order. Among these members, information is
stored on the high-density storage layer 102 and the low-density
storage layer 104.
[0080] In reading information from the optical disk 100, the disk
100 is irradiated with a light beam that has come from under (or
over), and been transmitted through, the protective glass layer
101. FIG. 1 shows a light beam 110-1 focused on the high-density
storage layer 102 and another light beam 110-2 focused on the
low-density storage layer 104 just for reference.
[0081] Hereinafter, the low-density storage layer 104 will be
described first, and then the high-density storage layer 102 will
be described.
[0082] The low-density storage layer 104 is located at a depth of
0.6 mm as measured from the disk surface on the light beam incoming
side. The low-density storage layer 104 is arranged at that depth
so as to be compatible with normal DVDs.
[0083] A DVD is formed by bonding together a transparent substrate
including an information storage layer and having a thickness of
0.6 mm and a base member with a thickness of 0.6 mm. And a series
of concave and convex pits are arranged thereon spirally at an
interval of approximately 0.7 .mu.m. The light beam is transmitted
through the substrate with a thickness of 0.6 mm to irradiate the
information storage layer. Consequently, information is read as a
variation in the intensity of the reflected light.
[0084] That is why the low-density storage layer 104 is also
arranged at the same depth as the DVD's storage layer and also
retains information that is stored spirally at an interval of
approximately 0.7 .mu.m. The information stored on the low-density
storage layer 104 is read with a red light beam 110-2 with a
wavelength of about 660 nm.
[0085] On the other hand, the high-density storage layer 102 is
located at a depth of approximately 0.1 mm as measured from the
disk surface on the light beam incoming side so as to be compatible
with BDs. This depth of 0.1 mm is equal to the thickness of the
protective glass layer 101. The base member 103 with a thickness of
0.5 mm is sandwiched between the high-density storage layer 102 and
the low-density storage layer 104. As a result, the light beam
focused on the low-density storage layer 104 is less likely to be
affected by the high-density storage layer 102, which is located
away from the focal point.
[0086] The high-density storage layer 102 achieves storage density
that is approximately five times as high as that of the low-density
storage layer 104 and DVDs. For that purpose, information is also
stored as spiral concave and convex pits at an interval of
approximately 0.3 .mu.m. The pit length of the high-density storage
layer 102 is shorter than that of the low-density storage layer
104. The information stored on the high-density storage layer 102
is read with the light beam 110-1, which is transmitted through the
protective glass layer 101 with a thickness of 0.1 mm and
irradiates the high-density storage layer 102. As a result, the
information is read as a variation in the intensity of the
reflected light.
[0087] It should be noted that the protective glass layer 101 is
actually often made of a resin and does not have to be made of
glass, strictly speaking. Also, to read information from the
low-density storage layer 104, the high-density storage layer 102
needs to be semi-transparent and transmits light at a predetermined
ratio. The protective glass layer 101 and the base member 103 are
transparent. The base member 105 has a thickness of 0.6 mm.
[0088] Next, the data structures of the high-density storage layer
102 and low-density storage layer 104 will be described with
reference to FIG. 2.
[0089] FIG. 2(a) shows the data structure of the high-density
storage layer 102, while FIG. 2(b) shows that of the low-density
storage layer 104. Different data structures compliant with the BD
and DVD standards, respectively, are defined for these layers. In
each of FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the direction in which these areas are
arranged from left to right on the paper corresponds to the
direction in which they are actually arranged from the inner edge
toward the outer edge on the optical disk 100.
[0090] Referring to FIG. 2(a), arranged on the high-density storage
layer 102 are a lead-in area 201, a data area 202, and a lead-out
area 203.
[0091] The lead-in area (which will be simply referred to herein as
a "lead-in") 201 is arranged as the innermost area such that an
information retrieval device can access that area most quickly when
loaded with an information storage medium. The lead-in is provided
to not only make the player perform stabilized tracking but also
store physical control information.
[0092] In the lead-in 201 of the high-density storage layer 102,
stored is a piece of management information (which will be referred
to herein as "hybrid information") 21 indicating that the optical
disk 100 has another storage layer that has a different storage
density from the high-density storage layer 102. In this preferred
embodiment, a value indicating the presence of the low-density
storage layer 104 is given as the hybrid information 21, which will
be described in further detail later with reference to FIG. 3.
[0093] In the data area 202, stored are volume information 2021,
navigation information 2022 and high definition (HD) title
information 2023. The volume information 2021 shows a file
structure. The navigation information 2022 is control information
such as the order of presentation of a content. The HD title
information 2023 is compressed digital data about high-definition
video (HD video). Specifically, the navigation information 2022
includes content's copyright management information 2024 about the
HD title information 2023. The copyright management information
2024 includes copy control information and may be used to make the
HD title information 2023 "copying prohibited", "copying permitted
one generation only", "copying permitted without restrictions" or
"distribution prohibited", for example.
[0094] The lead-out area (which will be simply referred to herein
as a "lead-out") 203 is provided mainly to make the player perform
stabilized tracking.
[0095] Next, referring to FIG. 2(b), the data structure of the
low-density storage layer 104 also includes a lead-in 211, a data
area 212 and a lead-out 213. The lead-in 211 and the lead-out 213
are provided for the same purposes as the counterparts of the
high-density storage layer 102.
[0096] However, the lead-in 211 of the low-density storage layer
104 includes no information corresponding to the hybrid information
21 so as to be compliant with the DVD standard. That is to say, the
DVD standard does not require providing information corresponding
to the hybrid information 21 for the lead-in. That is why if such a
type of information were included, then the information stored on
the low-density storage layer 104 would no longer be retrievable
for a conventional (DVD) player. Thus, to guarantee playback using
a conventional DVD player, no information corresponding to the
hybrid information 21 is stored in the lead-in 211.
[0097] Meanwhile, in the data area 212, stored is a piece of
information indicating the presence of another storage layer with a
different storage density (i.e., the high-density storage layer
102). Hereinafter, the data area 212 will be described in further
detail.
[0098] In the data area 212, stored are volume information 2121,
navigation information 2122, and standard definition (SD) title
information 2123.
[0099] The volume information 2121 shows a file structure. The
navigation information 2122 is control information such as the
order of presentation of a content. The SD title information 2123
is compressed digital data about standard-definition video.
Specifically, the navigation information 2122 includes copyright
management information 2124 about the SD title information 2123. It
should be noted that the copyright management information 2124 is
provided for a content with the SD title information 2123, unlike
the copyright management information 2024 for a content with the HD
title information 203.
[0100] In this preferred embodiment, the HD title information 2023
and the SD title information 2123 are about the same content with
different qualities. That is why by providing respective pieces of
copyright management information for these pieces of title
information for two different qualities, the distribution condition
and copy generation management are controllable as if they were two
different contents. For that reason, the copyright management
information 2024 for the HD title information 2023 and the
copyright management information 2124 for the SD title information
2123 do not have to include the same contents but may have totally
different contents.
[0101] In the data area 212, further stored is HD presence
information 2125, which indicates the presence of the high-density
storage layer 102, or speaking more directly, that HD audio/video
information is stored on this optical disk 100. This HD presence
information 2125 is video information or audio information
compliant with an MPEG standard, which can be read by a normal DVD
player, for example. That is to say, this HD presence information
2125 is treated as normal video information or audio information
that has been written on a data area where any type of information
can be stored. The video information or audio information that is
stored as the HD presence information 2125 is presented while a
program sequence called "First Play PGC" is being executed.
[0102] The following Table 1 shows the data specifications of an HD
title, while the following Table 2 shows those of an SD title. The
amount of information that can be stored on the high-density
storage layer 102 is approximately five times as large as that of
the low-density storage layer 104. That is why video (e.g., a
moving picture among other things) with a greater number of pixels
can be stored on the high-density storage layer 102.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 High definition (HD) title Video Encoding
method MPEG2, MPEG4 Numbers of pixels 1,920 .times. 1,080 Audio
Encoding method AAC Maximum bit rate 34 Mbps
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Standard definition (SD) title Video
Encoding method MPEG2 Numbers of pixels 720 .times. 480 Audio
Encoding method AC-3 Maximum bit rate 10 Mbps
[0103] The HD title information 2023 may be stored in the format of
an MPEG transport stream, for example. An MPEG transport stream
includes at least video stream packets and audio stream packets
that are multiplexed together.
[0104] As shown in Table 1, the video stream of the HD title is
encoded compliant with either the MPEG-2 standard or the MPEG-4
standard. The maximum numbers of pixels of the video are 1,920
horizontally and 1,080 vertically. Likewise, the audio stream of
the HD title is encoded compliant with the AAC standard with high
affinity for a digital broadcast.
[0105] On the other hand, the SD title information 2123 may be
stored in the format of an MPEG program stream, for example. An
MPEG program stream includes video stream packets (or packs) and
audio stream packets (or packs) that are multiplexed together.
[0106] As shown in Table 2, the video stream of the SD title is
encoded compliant with the MPEG-2 standard. The maximum numbers of
pixels of the video are 720 horizontally and 480 vertically.
Likewise, the audio stream of the SD title is encoded compliant
with the AC-3 standard.
[0107] In this preferred embodiment, the HD title and the SD title
are about the same content with different audio/video qualities.
The video quality is proportional to the magnitude of the bit rate.
For example, HD video has a maximum bit rate of 34 Mbps and SD
video has a maximum bit rate of 10 Mbps. Since video has higher
resolution than audio, video includes a greater amount of
information than audio.
[0108] The high-density storage layer 102 has a sufficient data
storage capacity. That is why an additional content, which is not
present on the low-density storage layer 104 (i.e., a so-called
"bonus content"), is sometimes stored on the high-density storage
layer 102.
[0109] Next, the hybrid information 21 will be described in detail
with reference to FIG. 3, which shows correlation between the
lead-in 201 of the high-density storage layer 102 and the hybrid
information 21.
[0110] The lead-in 201 is subdivided into various areas, one of
which is called permanent information and control data (PIC) area
2011. The PIC area 2011 includes more than one disk information
(DI) area #1, . . . and #n. And the hybrid information 21 is stored
at a predetermined data location within the DI area #1 2012.
[0111] The hybrid information 21 may have any specific data
structure as long as the information can indicate whether the
low-density storage layer 104 is present or not. For example,
hybrid information 21 "00" may indicate that there is no
low-density storage layer 104, i.e., the optical disk is not a
hybrid disk, while hybrid information 21 "01" may indicate the
presence of the low-density storage layer 104. Alternatively, the
two-bit value may be replaced with a simple one-bit value, too.
[0112] The hybrid information 21 may have the value "00" indicating
that the disk is not a hybrid disk because a non-hybrid disk such
as a BD-ROM could store the hybrid information 21, too. The
high-density storage layer 102 of a hybrid disk and the storage
layer of a BD-ROM may have the same data structure. That is why the
player can recognize the type of the given disk by the value of the
hybrid information.
[0113] Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of an apparatus
that can retrieve information from the optical disk 100 described
above will be described with reference to FIG. 4.
[0114] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a player 300 according to
this preferred embodiment. A TV set 320 connected to the player 300
is also shown in FIG. 4. The player 300 and the TV set 320 are
connected together via an HDMI cable 330.
[0115] The player 300 can retrieve information from respective
layers of the optical disk 100 including the high-density storage
layer 102 and the low-density storage layer 104. When loaded with
the optical disk 100 inserted, the player 300 reads various sorts
of information from the optical disk 100 and then outputs video
information and audio information at such qualities that the TV 321
and loudspeakers 322 of the TV set 320 can deal with.
[0116] It should be noted that the player 300 could also retrieve
information from a normal DVD with the same storage density as the
low-density storage layer 104 and from a BD with the same storage
density as the high-density storage layer 102.
[0117] The player 300 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 301,
a general-purpose memory 302, an optical pickup 310, a layer
recognizing section 311, a layer specifying section 312, a signal
switching section 313, a user input interface (I/F) 316, a video
output format memory 317, a connection interface (I/F) 318, a
copyright information processing section 319, an HD decoder 3140
and an SD decoder 3150.
[0118] Among these components, the optical pickup 310, the user
input I/F 316, the video output format memory 317 (which will be
simply referred to herein as a "format memory 317) and the
connection I/F 318 are provided as independent pieces of hardware.
The HD decoder 3140 and the SD decoder 3150 may be provided as
either independent decoder circuits (or chips) or a single decoder
chip also including the signal switching section 313.
Alternatively, the HD decoder 3140 and the SD decoder 3150 may
share part of their processors.
[0119] On the other hand, the layer recognizing section 311, the
layer specifying section 312, the signal switching section 313 and
the copyright information processing section 319 may be provided as
respectively independent dedicated circuits. Or the CPU 301 may
perform the functions of these components (which will be described
in detail later) by executing a computer program, for example. For
the sake of simplicity, those components are shown in FIG. 4
separately from the CPU 301.
[0120] Hereinafter, the functions of the respective components will
be described one by one.
[0121] The CPU 301 controls the overall operation of the player
300.
[0122] The general-purpose memory 302 is a known random access
memory (RAM) and stores a computer program, temporary data and so
on when the CPU 301 is operating.
[0123] The optical pickup 310 emits a light beam toward the optical
disk 100 and focuses it on either the high-density storage layer
102 or the low-density storage layer 104. Also, the optical pickup
310 performs tracking so as to follow the tracks on the
high-density storage layer 102 or the low-density storage layer
104, and reads information from the high-density storage layer 102
or the low-density storage layer 104, thereby outputting a read
signal.
[0124] The layer recognizing section 311 determines, based on the
read signal supplied from the optical pickup 310, whether the layer
on which the light beam is currently focused and which is being
tracked by the optical pickup 310 now is the low-density storage
layer 104 or the high-density storage layer 102.
[0125] In accordance with the decision made by the layer
recognizing section 311 and the contents of the format memory 317,
the layer specifying section 312 determines the storage layer to
retrieve information from and instructs the optical pickup 310
which storage layer the light beam should be focused on. The layer
specifying section 312 also instructs the signal switching section
313 to switch the read signals.
[0126] The signal switching section 313 switches the transmission
paths of the read signal supplied from the optical pickup 310,
thereby selecting either the HD decoder 3140 or the SD decoder 3150
to process the signal. If the player 300 is loaded with the optical
disk 100, the signal switching section 313 may switch the
transmission paths not just when information should start to be
read but also at an arbitrary time as well. Specifically, if the
player 300 is loaded with a BD, the signal switching section 313
switches the paths into a playback path leading to the HD decoder
3140 when information starts to be read. On the other hand, if the
player 300 is loaded with a DVD, the signal switching section 313
switches the paths into a playback path leading to the SD decoder
3150.
[0127] In FIG. 4, the signal switching section 313 is shown as a
hardware switch. However, this is just an example to make the
function of the switching section 313 easily understandable.
Alternatively, switching may also be done by means of software. For
example, when the CPU 301 of the player 300 or a decoder chip, in
which the HD decoder 3140 and the SD decoder 3150 are integrated
together, executes a software program, the switching section 313
may be realized as a part of branch decision processing, which is
carried out to determine whether decoder to function is the HD
decoder 3140 or the SD decoder 3150.
[0128] The HD decoder 3140 includes a signal processing section
3141 and an expanding section 3142. The signal processing section
3141 modulates, demodulates and corrects the errors of the signal
that has been read from the high-density storage layer 102. The
processed signal includes encoded video information, encoded audio
information and copyright management information. The signal
processing section 3141 separates the encoded video information and
encoded audio information from the copyright management information
and sends the encoded information to the expanding section 3142 and
the copyright management information to the copyright information
processing section 319, respectively. The expanding section 3142
decodes the encoded video information and audio information,
thereby generating audio information and video information.
[0129] The SD decoder 3150 includes a signal processing section
3151 and an expanding section 3152. The signal processing section
3151 modulates, demodulates and corrects the errors of the signal
that has been read from the low-density storage layer 104. The
processed signal includes encoded video information, encoded audio
information and copyright management information. The signal
processing section 3151 separates the encoded video information and
encoded audio information from the copyright management information
and sends the encoded information to the expanding section 3152 and
the copyright management information to the copyright information
processing section 319, respectively. The expanding section 3152
decodes the encoded video information and audio information,
thereby generating audio information and video information.
[0130] Since a video or audio content stored at its associated
definition in each of the high-density storage layer 102 and the
low-density storage layer 104 is provided with its own copyright
management information, the best possible method of copyright
management can be provided.
[0131] The user input I/F 316 is in charge of exchange of
information between the user and the player 300, while the
connection I/F 318 is in charge of exchange of information between
the TV set 320 and the player 300.
[0132] The user input I/F 316 is used when the user is inputting
performance information that specifies the display performance of
the TV set 320 using a remote controller, for example. As used
herein, the "performance information" means information that
specifies a signal format acceptable for the TV set 320. In this
preferred embodiment, the performance information is supposed to be
a piece of information that specifies a video signal format.
Specifically, the performance information may be a piece of
information indicating whether the TV set 320 has the ability to
display both HD video and SD video or the ability to display only
SD video, for example.
[0133] Meanwhile, the connection I/F 318 is compliant with the HDMI
standard and can keep up bidirectional communications with the TV
set 320. Specifically, the connection I/F 318 requests the
performance information from the TV set 320, which sends its own
performance information to the connection I/F 318 in response to
the request. These processing steps are carried out automatically
compliant with the standard and the user does not have to do
anything about that.
[0134] The format memory 317 stores information that defines the
format of the signal to be output from the player 300 (which will
be referred to herein as "output defining information"). The format
memory 317 may be a rewritable EEPROM. Once set, the format memory
317 retains the output defining information even if the player 300
is turned OFF after that.
[0135] The output defining information is generated by the CPU 301
based on the performance information of the TV set 320 that has
been acquired by way of the user input I/F 316 and the connection
I/F 318. In this preferred embodiment, if the performance
information indicates that the TV set has the ability to display
both HD video and SD video, a value indicating BD is stored. On the
other hand, if the performance information indicates that the TV
set has the ability to display only the SD video, then a value
indicating SD is stored. It should be noted that when the player
300 is shipped, a value indicating "automatic detection" is stored
as the output defining information.
[0136] The copyright information processing section 319 sends the
copyright management information to the connection I/F 318, thereby
getting copyright protection processing (such as addition of copy
generation management information and encryption) done on the audio
and video information transmitted to the TV set 320.
[0137] The connection I/F 318 receives the output of the copyright
information processing section 319 and the output of the expanding
section 3142 or 3152, multiplexes these outputs together, and then
send the multiplexed stream to the TV set 320. Optionally, an
additional component for receiving these outputs, multiplexing them
together and sending the multiplexed data stream to the connection
I/F 318 may be provided. In that case, the connection I/F 318 will
receive the multiplexed data stream and send it to the TV set
320.
[0138] Hereinafter, it will be described with reference to FIGS. 5
through 9 how the player 300 operates.
[0139] FIG. 5 shows the procedure of initializing processing to be
carried out by the player 300. This processing is performed to
determine from which layer information should be read earlier, the
high-density storage layer 102 or the low-density storage layer
104, when the player 300 is loaded with the optical disk 100. That
is why this processing is carried out when the user turns the
player 300 ON for the first time or when the player 300 is loaded
with a hybrid disk for the first time. However, the user can get
this processing done at his or her desired time by manipulating a
remote controller (not shown), for example.
[0140] First, in Step S51, the CPU 301 gets an initializing screen
displayed on the TV 321. The data of the initializing screen may be
stored in the general-purpose memory 302, for example, and may be
output by way of the connection I/F 318 to the TV set 320 in
accordance with the instruction given by the CPU 301.
[0141] Next, in Step S52, the CPU 301 reads the output defining
information from the format memory 317 and shows the result on the
initializing screen.
[0142] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary initializing screen. On the
screen, three options 61, 62 and 63 are shown. As described above,
when the player 300 is shipped, a value indicating "automatic
detection" is stored in the format memory 317. For that reason, the
option 61 is now highlighted.
[0143] Referring back to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the processing
path branches in Step S53 according to the option 61, 62 or 63 that
has been picked by the user.
[0144] Specifically, in Step S53, the CPU 301 determines whether
the option picked by the user is "automatic detection" or not. If
the answer is YES, the process advances to Step S54. Otherwise, the
process advances to Step S55.
[0145] The processing steps that begin with Step S54 are carried
out by the CPU 301 to automatically determine from which of the two
storage layers 102 and 104 of the optical disk 100 information
should be read earlier. In Step S54, the CPU 301 instructs the
connection I/F 318 to get the performance information of the TV set
320 (more specifically, the definition of the TV 321) following the
procedure defined by the HDMI standard.
[0146] Next, in Step S56, it is determined based on the performance
information whether or not the TV 321 has the ability to display
only SD video (i.e., whether the TV has standard definition or
not). If the answer is YES, the process advances to Step S57.
Otherwise (i.e., if the TV has high definition), then the process
advances to Step S58.
[0147] In Step S57, the CPU 301 stores a value indicating DVD as
the output defining information in the format memory 317. On the
other hand, in Step S58, the CPU 301 stores a value indicating BD
as the output defining information in the format memory 317.
[0148] Meanwhile, in Step S55, the CPU 301 determines whether the
option picked by the user is BD or not. If the answer is YES, the
process advances to Step S58. Otherwise (i.e., if the option picked
by the user is DVD), then the process advances to Step S59. The
processing step S59 is the same as the processing step S57, and the
description thereof will be omitted herein.
[0149] When the output defining information is stored in the format
memory 317 as a result of the processing described above, the CPU
301 reads the video or audio information from the selected storage
layer of the optical disk 100 in accordance with that information.
Once the output defining information has been set, the playback
processing may be carried out in accordance with that information
until the processing shown in FIG. 5 is performed again.
[0150] Alternatively, another option "always detect automatically"
may be provided and the CPU 301 may perform the processing steps
S54, S56, S57 and S58 every time the optical disk 100 is inserted.
Then, even if the user that has viewed programs on the TV 321 of
the standard definition has newly purchased a high definition TV,
he or she can enjoy HD video and audio without changing the
settings of the player 300.
[0151] Hereinafter, it will be described with reference to FIG. 7
how the player 300 performs the playback processing.
[0152] FIG. 7 shows the procedure of playback processing to be
carried out by the player 300.
[0153] First, in Step S71, the CPU 301 detects the insertion of a
disk based on a signal supplied from a sensor (not shown), for
example. As described above, the player 300 can retrieve
information from not only a hybrid disk (such as the optical disk
100) but also DVDs and BDs as well. That is why it should be
determined, through the processing steps that follow Step S71,
which type of disk has been inserted.
[0154] Next, in Step S72, the CPU 301 activates the optical pickup
310 to get a light beam emitted, and then gets the light beam
focused at the same depth as that of the high-density storage layer
102, i.e., at a depth of 0.1 mm as measured from the disk surface
on the light beam incoming side. In this case, the light beam has a
wavelength of about 405 nm.
[0155] Next, in Step S73, the layer recognizing section 311
measures the reflectance of the light beam, for example, thereby
determining whether or not there is any storage layer at that
depth. If the answer is YES, the process advances to Step S74. In
that case, the optical disk inserted is either the optical disk 100
or a BD. If there is no storage layer, however, the process
advances to Step S75.
[0156] In Step S74, the CPU 301 moves the optical pickup 310 to
around the innermost area of the optical disk to determine whether
or not the hybrid information 21 is stored at a predetermined
location in the lead-in. If the answer is YES, the process advances
to Step S76. Otherwise, the process advances to Step S78. If there
is the hybrid information 21, then the given optical disk is
recognized as the optical disk 100. If not, the given optical disk
is recognized as a BD.
[0157] In Step S76, the CPU 301 makes the optical pickup 310 read
the hybrid information 21. Then, in Step S77, the CPU 301 analyzes
the hybrid information 21 to determine whether or not there is a
low-density storage layer.
[0158] If the answer is YES, the process advances to Step S79. In
that case, a message like "this optical disk is a hybrid disk" is
either shown on the screen or output through the loudspeakers,
thereby notifying the user of the fact. As a result, he or she can
know that the given optical disk is a hybrid one, i.e., there are a
high-density storage layer and a low-density storage layer in it.
On the other hand, if there is no low-density storage layer, the
process advances to Step S78. In that case, a message like "this
optical disk is a BD" may be either shown on the screen or output
through the loudspeakers to notify the user of the fact.
[0159] The information of the messages to be presented may be
stored in the general-purpose memory 302, for example. The CPU 301
reads that information out and sends it out to either the TV 321 or
the loudspeakers 322 via the connection I/F 318.
[0160] In Step S78, the optical pickup 310 reads information from
either the high-density storage layer 102 or BD's storage layer of
the optical disk 100, on which the light beam has already been
focused, and displays that information. That is to say, the optical
pickup 310 gets audio/video information decoded by the HD decoder
3140 and output to the TV 321 and the loudspeakers 322. After that,
the process ends.
[0161] In Step S79, it is determined whether or not the output
defining information has a value indicating "BD". If the answer is
YES, the process advances to Step S78. Otherwise (i.e., if the
information has a value indicating "DVD"), the process advances to
Step S75.
[0162] In Step S75, the CPU 301 activates the optical pickup 310 to
get a light beam emitted, and then gets the light beam focused at
the same depth as that of the low-density storage layer 104, i.e.,
at a depth of 0.6 mm as measured from the disk surface on the light
beam incoming side. In this case, the wavelengths of the light beam
are changed into about 650 nm.
[0163] Next, in Step S80, the layer recognizing section 311
measures the reflectance of the light beam, for example, thereby
determining whether or not there is any storage layer at that
depth. If the answer is NO, the process advances to Step S81. On
the other hand, if the answer is YES, the process advances to Step
S82. In that case, the optical disk inserted is either the optical
disk 100 or a DVD.
[0164] In Step S81, retry processing is carried out because it is
determined that the type of the given disk must have been
recognized by mistake, and then the process goes back to Step S72.
If no storage layer can be detected from the disk inserted even by
performing the retry processing a predetermined number of times,
the process may end.
[0165] In Step S82, the optical pickup 310 reads information from
either the low-density storage layer 104 or DVD's storage layer of
the optical disk 100, on which the light beam has already been
focused, and displays that information. In this case, the optical
pickup 310 gets audio/video information decoded by the SD decoder
3150 and output to the TV 321 and the loudspeakers 322.
[0166] It should be noted that the video and other types of
information presented to the user change depending on whether the
information is read out from the low-density storage layer 104 of
the optical disk 100 or the DVD's storage layer thereof.
Hereinafter, the playback process to be performed on the
low-density storage layer 104 will be described with reference to
FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0167] In the following description, the processing shown in FIGS.
8 and 9 is supposed to be carried out by the player 300. However,
the statement of this processing is also applicable to even a
situation where a conventional read-only DVD player is performing
playback processing on the low-density storage layer 104 as a
normal DVD's storage layer. The effects caused by the method shown
in FIGS. 8 and 9 are achieved most significantly when the playback
operation is carried out using such a DVD player.
[0168] FIG. 8 shows the procedure of information retrieval
processing on the low-density storage layer 104. To start this
processing, first, the physical control information stored in the
lead-in 211 of the low-density storage layer 104 is read out and
predetermined pre-processing is performed.
[0169] First, in Step S85, the CPU 301 instructs the optical pickup
310 to read the navigation information 2122 from the data area 212
and execute First Play PGC, which is a type of processing that is
always carried out first when data is read from the data area 212
of the low-density storage layer 104.
[0170] The low-density storage layer 104 of the optical disk 100 is
designed such that an image including the HD presence information
2125 is presented in the First Play PGC. That is why when starting
to read information from the low-density storage layer 104, the
player 300 presents the user an image indicating the presence of
the high-density storage layer 102 (more specifically, an image
indicating the presence of HD audio/video information) as a part of
the video.
[0171] FIG. 9 shows an exemplary on-screen message indicating the
presence of the high-density storage layer 102. By reading this
message, the user knows that HD video can be viewed if a player
that can retrieve information from the high-density storage layer
and an HDTV are used in combination. If he or she uses the player
300 and an HDTV, he or she can get the initializing screen shown in
FIG. 6 displayed and can change the types of processing such that
information can be retrieved from the high-density storage layer
102. On the other hand, if the user uses a read-only DVD player, he
or she can sense that an HD title is also included in the optical
disk 100 and will be able to enjoy the HD title when he or she
purchases a BD player and an HDTV sometime in the future.
[0172] It should be noted that the on-screen message including the
HD presence information 2125 does not always have to be presented
during the sequence of First Play PGC itself. Alternatively, when
the processing branches in accordance with a command that must be
executed when First Play PGC ends, that on-screen message may be
presented during a sequence executed after the branch. Optionally,
the light beam may be focused on the low-density storage layer 104
first unlike the example shown in FIG. 7 and that piece of
information may be presented during the processing that is carried
out substantially earliest.
[0173] After that, the process advances to Step S86, in which an SD
title starts to be played back. More specifically, a menu is
displayed in Step S861 and the main content is played back in Step
S862. After that, the process ends.
[0174] The player 300 of this preferred embodiment operates as
described above. In the first half of the processing through the
processing steps S74, S76 and S77 shown in FIG. 7, there is no need
to detect both the high-density storage layer 102 and the
low-density storage layer 104 by focusing the light beam on both of
these layers. That is why compared to the situation where both of
these layers need to be detected by actually focusing the light
beam on both of them, the processing can be done much more
quickly.
[0175] Furthermore, in the processing step S79 described above, if
the optical disk 100 inserted includes the high-density storage
layer 102 and the low-density storage layer 104, it is determined
by the output defining information whether information should be
retrieved from the high-density storage layer 102 or the
low-density storage layer 104. And in the processing steps that
follow the processing step S79, information is retrieved in
accordance with the decision. As to the storage layer to retrieve
information from, the output defining information determines it
with not only the user's playback environment but also his or her
preference taken into consideration. That is why the player 300 can
quickly start retrieving the information that can be viewed and
listened to by the user and that has been requested by him or
her.
[0176] Even if the player 300 has the function of down-converting
HD audio/video into SD audio/video, the function need not be used
when the player 300 is loaded with the optical disk 100. This is
because the player 300 has already recognized the presence of the
low-density storage layer 104 in Step S77 and can control its
operation so as to read and present the SD audio/video from the
low-density storage layer 104. For that reason, only when loaded
with a BD, the player 300 may use its down-converting function.
[0177] In the foregoing description of preferred embodiments, the
same content is supposed to be stored with different qualities in
the high-density storage layer 102 and the low-density storage
layer 104 of the optical disk 100. That is why unless otherwise
specified by the user, the player 300 is supposed to retrieve the
HD title information 2023 from the high-density storage layer 102
preferentially in an environment where the information can be
displayed with HD quality, but retrieve the SD title information
2123 from the low-density storage layer 104 in an environment where
the information can be displayed only with the SD quality (see the
processing steps S56 to S58 shown in FIG. 5 and the processing
steps S78 and S79 shown in FIG. 7).
[0178] As the case may be, however, two different contents may be
stored on the high-density storage layer 102 and the low-density
storage layer 104, respectively. For example, a movie content of HD
quality may be stored on the high-density storage layer 102 and a
bonus content of that movie such as the filmmaking process audio
and video of that movie of SD quality may be stored on the
low-density storage layer 104. Or a movie content of HD quality may
be stored on the high-density storage layer 102 and a bonus content
of SD quality that has nothing to do with that movie may be stored
on the low-density storage layer 104.
[0179] In that case, even if HD video is played back based on the
HD title information 2023 stored on the high-density storage layer
102, the user is preferably notified that there is the low-density
storage layer 104 and that a different content is stored there.
Thus, a new data structure will be proposed with reference to FIG.
10.
[0180] FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) show other exemplary data structures
for the high-density storage layer 102 and low-density storage
layer 104. The data structure of the high-density storage layer 102
shown in FIG. 10(a) is different from that shown in FIG. 2(a) in
that SD presence information 2025 is further stored in the data
area 202 of the high-density storage layer 102.
[0181] The SD presence information 2025 is provided as audio/video
information indicating that there is the low-density storage layer
104 and/or that an SD quality content is stored separately from an
HD quality content. This SD presence information 2025 is presented
at an arbitrary time before the HD title information 2023 starts to
be displayed or after the HD title information 2023 has been
displayed. Its timing (i.e., presentation order) is defined by the
navigation information 2022, for example.
[0182] On the other hand, the data structure of the low-density
storage layer 104 shown in FIG. 10(b) is the same as that shown in
FIG. 2(b). However, the audio/video information stored as the HD
presence information 2125 may have different contents from the
message displayed in FIG. 9. For example, audio/video information,
indicating that the content stored on this storage layer is just a
bonus content and that the main content could only be played back
with a BD player, may be stored as the HD presence information
2125. When starting to retrieve information from the high-density
storage layer 102, the player 300 reads the hybrid information 21
to confirm whether or not there is the low-density storage layer
104. If the information indicates the presence of the low-density
storage layer 104, then the SD presence information 2025 is read
out from the high-density storage layer 102 and a video signal
and/or an audio signal, indicating the presence of the low-density
storage layer 104 or the presence of SD audio/video, is output to
the TV 321.
[0183] FIG. 11(a) shows an exemplary on-screen message indicating
the presence of the low-density storage layer 104. The DVD layer
shown in FIG. 11(a) corresponds to the low-density storage layer
104. In this example, the user is prompted to decide from which
layer the information should be retrieved, the BD layer or the DVD
layer. In selecting the BD layer, he or she needs to highlight the
box 111 using a remote controller (not shown) and then enter his or
her selection. On the other hand, in selecting the DVD layer, he or
she needs to highlight the box 112 using the remote controller (not
shown) and then enter his or her selection. In FIG. 11(a), the box
112 is now highlighted. Then, the player 300 retrieves information
from the selected storage layer. If necessary, the CPU 301
instructs the optical pickup 310 to change the wavelengths of the
light beam or tells the layer specifying section 312 which storage
layer to read information from. In accordance with this
instruction, the layer specifying section 312 changes the storage
layers on which the light beam should be focused. Also, as in the
example described above, the layer specifying section 312 may
switch the transmission lines of the read signal supplied from the
signal switching section 313 into that leading to the SD decoder
3150.
[0184] It should be noted that the message shown in FIG. 11(a) is
just an example and a different message could tell the user that
this is a hybrid disk. For example, FIG. 11(b) shows an exemplary
on-screen message notifying the user that there is a standard
quality content. In the example shown in FIG. 11(b), the
information about the main content of a movie is supposed to be
stored on the high-density storage layer 102, while a bonus content
thereof is supposed to be stored on the low-density storage layer
104.
[0185] According to this notification method, the user knows the
presence of the bonus content and indirectly senses the presence of
the low-density storage layer 104. As the user does not have to pay
attention to the fact that this is a hybrid disk, this method is
easily understandable for a user of any age. By highlighting one of
the boxes 113 and 114, showing the types of contents to view and
listen to, using a remote controller (not shown) and entering his
or her selection, he or she can select either the BD layer or the
DVD layer indirectly.
[0186] The exemplary messages shown in FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) are
presented by the player 300 based on the SD presence information
2025. To compose these messages, the SD presence information 2025
includes graphic data defining the figures of the boxes to be
highlighted. In many cases, a figure to be highlighted is
superimposed on a background image, which is compressed image data.
These data are expanded and then presented by the HD decoder
3140.
[0187] In the description of this preferred embodiment, the graphic
data associated with the box 112 or 114 is linked to a command
instructing that layers be switched into the low-density storage
layer and information be retrieved from that layer. By executing
this command, the CPU 30 performs the processing described above.
This command may be stored as a part of the SD presence
information. Alternatively, the command may also be included in the
navigation information 2022, for example.
[0188] Also, if the player 300 can retrieve information from the
high-density storage layer 102, another HD presence information
(not shown) may be further stored on the low-density storage layer
104 in addition to the HD presence information 2125 and the player
300 may display the messages shown in FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) based
on that additional HD presence information. As a result, the user
can view and listen to any content he or she likes by switching the
BD and DVD layers one into the other. In that case, however, to
prevent a conventional player that can retrieve information from
only a DVD layer (i.e., low-density storage layer) from
malfunctioning, the additional HD presence information should be
stored in an optical disk area that the conventional player never
accesses, for example.
[0189] In the preferred embodiments described above, the
performance information of the TV set 320 is supposed to be
acquired automatically through the HDMI interface and the result is
supposed to be stored in the video output format memory 317.
Alternatively, the performance information may always be set by the
user by default on the initializing screen. In that case, the
present invention would be applicable to even a player with no
bidirectional interface or to a TV 320 without any bidirectional
interface.
[0190] Also, in the preferred embodiments described above, the
hybrid information 21 is supposed to be stored in the lead-in of
the high-density storage layer 102. However, this is just an
example. Alternatively, multiple pieces of hybrid information 21
may be stored on the header information portion of a sector, which
is the minimum storage unit of the optical disk.
[0191] Furthermore, in the preferred embodiments described above,
one high-density storage layer 102 and one low-density storage
layer 104 are supposed to be included in the optical disk 100.
However, the present invention is in no way limited to those
specific preferred embodiments. Optionally, multiple high-density
storage layers 102 and/or multiple low-density storage layers 104
may be present on the optical disk 100.
[0192] Furthermore, in the preferred embodiments described above, a
disklike optical disk is supposed to be used. However, this is also
only an example. Alternatively, a card from/on which data can be
read and written optically may also be used instead.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0193] An optical storage medium according to the present invention
includes two storage layers with mutually different storage
densities. On one of these two storage layers, management
information indicating the presence of the other storage layer is
stored. And if the player notifies the user of the presence of the
other storage layer based on the management information, he or she
can sense the presence of that layer easily. Consequently, by using
the optical storage medium of the present invention and the player
of the present invention that can retrieve information from such an
optical storage medium, the user can retrieve his or her desired
information much more easily and handily.
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